Nu Po

Distance from Border8 km in a straight line, 13 km by road to the border village of Perng Klerng

Distance from Mae Sot232 km / approx. 5 hours driving time

Distance from Umphang68 km / approx. 1½ hours driving time

AccessibilityCar: All-year-round access (public transport available) Phone: No mobile phone coverage[H1] , although a landline was set up at the camp office (Oct 2010); public phone available at MoI office

Camp GeographyArea about 400 rai (64 ha)

Introduction and History

Nu Po camp has a population of some 9,000 people and was set up in 1997 to consolidate two former camps that originated five years earlier.

The population is some 82 percent ethnic Karen/Kayin and around 6 percent Burman. There is a significant Muslim community.

The camp operates with the efforts of a great number of camp residents and leaders, such as warehouse manager Naw Htoo Paw and sometime camp committee member Saw Gaw.

Currently, due to its isolated location, the camp whose name means “small lake” in the Karen/Kayin language, is off the mains electricity grid. The camp office, health, education and social service centres have access to power from electric generators.

Hydro-electricity is also widely generated, mainly to recharge vehicle batteries to power household lighting. Several privately-operated mobile phone and internet services are available.

Demographics

TBC Ration Recipients: 8.724 (August 2018).

Breakdown by Age

<5 Yrs

11.7%

5-17 Yrs

33.6%

Adult

54.7%

Breakdown by Gender

Female

52.1%

Male

47.9%

Breakdown by Ethnicity

Karen/Kayin

84.2%

Burman

5.9%

Mon

1.3%

Other

8.6%

In 2005, the Royal Thai Government gave approval for resettlement opportunities to be offered to camp residents. As of September 2018, a total of 9,728 persons have departed from Nu Po, according to IOM data. The majority have resettled in the USA.

Follow Us!

‘Working with Displaced People’

This website aims to give general information and updates on the situation of refugees in Thailand from Burma/Myanmar and to provide access to some of TBC’s key information resources. We welcome comments, feedback and suggestions.

The Border Consortium is a Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales. Company number 05255598. Registered Office 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL. Charity Commission registered number 1109476.